Hi Friends!
To correct the "misquotes" you may have read in various Press descriptions of Karen's marriage to Tom Burris, the following is an accurate report from a guest who attended that momentous occasion!
August 31st 1980, was a very warm, brilliantly sunny day, and our hearts were filled with a matching warmth as we were about to witness the marriage ceremony of a very special couple.
As the four hundred and fifty four guests were ushered to their seats in the Crystal Room of the exclusive Beverly Hills Hotel in California, the delicate strains of organ music played, and the atmosphere felt as sacred as any wedding chapel or church.
The magnificent decor was specially designed to simulate a 1950's wedding in an olde English garden setting. Every window and pillar in the room was covered with silver foil-backed trellises, interwoven with white orchids, gardenias. violets and lemon leaves. Huge baskets of orchids were suspended from the ceiling, and another trellis heavily laden with purple stocks (to simulate wisteria) and lemon leaves, was positioned above the custom built altar. framing the bridal party.
Prior to the service, Richard appeared in gray morning coat to take his position at the piano, where he accompanied the 40 piece Tom Bahior Chorale, as well as Earl Dumler on oboe, and Gayle Levant on harp. The renowned English orchestra leader Peter Knight flew from his home to make his contribution to the music for Karen's wedding, and conducted the choir. As the maestro and choir float serenely into a medley of Carpenters hits and other love ballads as only Richard can articulate with his superb arrangements, it was difficult to keep a dry eye!
Dr. Robert Schuller, Pastor of Garden Grove Community Church, and frequent preacher on televised services, officiated at the wedding ceremony. He escorted the very handsome groom and his best man (brother Richard) to the altar.
The bridegroom's parents headed the bridal procession, Mrs. Burris looking very elegant in a pale green chiffon gown with a matching lace re-embroidered jacket, and a matching picture hat trimmed with pale green silk gardenias.
Richard left the piano for a few moments to escort his mother down the aisle. Mrs. Carpenter looked equally elegant and happy, wearing a gray satin stripe over lavender chiffon gown, trimmed with lavender lace embroidery at the neckline and cuffs. Her picture hat consisted of lavender chiffon with lavender posies of forget-me-nots.
As the music faded out, a momentary pause, then Karen's crystal clear voice conveyed her personal message to her bridegroom with an awesome recording entitled Because We Are In Love. Richard composed and arranged this masterpiece in commemoration of Karen's wedding, in coordination with his longtime writing partner John Bettis who wrote the lyrics. What a moving moment to precede the nuptials.
The bridal path (aisle) was lined with custom built white gardenia topiary trees, and large woven baskets of pink chrysanthemums, making a perfect setting for the bridal procession as the tiny flower girls scattered the petals dutifully. Their charming Victorian style gowns of white Swiss embroidered cotton were bloused at the hips with white silk taffe sashes. Their hose and patent leather shoes were also, white, and their purple straw hats were ringed with lace and violets. The smaller flower girl's twin brother (Karen's godchildren) was the ring bearer. Looking adorable in a white satin knickerbockers outfit with lace ruffles and white silk cummerbund. white hose and patent leather shoes, carrying the unique ring pillow. This was specially created by designer Bill Belew, who used remnants of material from all the gowns he had made for Karen over the years for her many televised Carpenters performances.
The procession of ten bridesmaids, each on the arm of a morning coated usher, followed by the matron-of-honor was a picturesque scene. Their waltz length gowns of lavender chiffon over crepe-de-chine slips featured double tiered cape sleeves and sweetheart necklines. Their waistlines were accentuated with emerald green sashes adorned with a posy of lavender silk violets, and each carried a sheaf of deep purple dendrobin orchids, tied with emerald green satin bows.
Now the moment we had all been waiting fort As the opening chords of The Bridal March warned us of the imminent appearance of the bride all heads turned as Karen emerged on the arm of her proud father, looking absolutely exquisite and radiantly happy.
Her gown was modeled after an 18th. century riding ensemble, Made of white mausseline-de-soie, the long sleeved jacketed gown with a long train featured a floral design of iridescent seashells and sequins. Fifteen yards of material were used for this work of art! The bride's silk elusion veil cascaded from a white chiffon detachable brimmed picture hat, fashioned with a Juliet cap crown embroidered with sequin-studded flowers. Lilies-of-the-valley was Karen's choice for the bouquet she carried, interwoven with wired loops and streamers of tiny white pikaki petals which gave a lace effect.
As the Bride met her Groom at the altar, both smiled broadly and the service began. After Richard sang a very moving version of The Wedding Prayer, and the couple exchanged marriage vows (loud and clear!) and they exchanged rings the pastor proclaimed Tom and Karen "Husband and Wife" at the completion of the service.
All eyes were glued on the happy couple as they returned down the aisle. While Tom and Karen held a Press Conference and posed for cameras, the guests were served cocktails as they mingled in the Maisonette Room. It was fun meeting so many celebrities The guests later returned to the Crystal Room for the wedding luncheon.
Each table was elegantly decorated with lavender linen tablecloths covered with white lace and matching napkins. The mirrored centerpieces, fashioned to simulate a lake with crystal swans bearing a stem of purple orchids, were "floating" atop the mirrors. Amidst the swans were elaborate arrangements of alba lilies and African violets, and white chocolate woven baskets of lavender chocolate flowers and silver almonds.
The menu consisted of limestone lettuce salad with shrimps, breast of chicken chasseur sous cloche (under glass), broccoli polonaise, rice pilaf, Chablis wine, strawberries Romanoff with bisquit fans and coffee. During the luncheon a toast "To The Bride And Groom" was proposed by the head usher Lt. Governor of California Mike Curb.
The spacious dance floor and music of the Michael Paige Big Band invited the newly weds to lead off the first dance to the accompaniment of... you guessed right! We've Only Just Begun. As the guests joined in the dancing, the atmosphere became steeped in nostalgia.
Later on the spectacular 4 tiered wedding cake was wheeled into view of everyone in the center of the dance floor, and while cameras clicked furiously, the couple cut the first slice. It was a delicious mixture of chocolate and mocha filling, covered with white fondant icing, scalloped edging highlighted with lemon colored iced decorations, wedding bells and lilies-of-the-valley. The top tier displayed the traditional figures of a bride and groom embraced by two interwoven lace trimmed hearts.
Before the bride and groom left the ballroom to prepare for their honeymoon departure. Karen tossed her bouquet into the crowd of single female guests and was retrieved coincidentally by her good friend Olivia Newton-John. Her garter was caught by a "non-celebrity" young bachelor.
So ended an unforgettable wedding. Indeed royalty could not have staged a better production!
Karen chose a dusty rose silk linen two piece outfit for her going away ensemble. The dress was cut on the bias and featured a sweetheart neckline and peblum jacket complemented by a beige silk straw hat offset with pink lilacs, beige kid gloves and bag, and dusty rose shoes.
The newly weds spent a few days in Mexico before flying on to the South Pacific island of Bora Bora for ten days. They are presently residing in Beverly Hills and hope to build a new home in the future.
Another colorful event preceding the wedding was a shower given for Karen by her matron-of-honor Frenda Leffler and bridesmaid Carole Scott (sister of Mike Curb). It was Carole who initially introduced Tom and Karen to each other.
The shower was held at the exclusive Hillcrest Country Club where about fifty guests enjoyed an elegant lunch, and the opportunity to "Shower Karen with love and affection". Karen looked superb in a two piece outfit of daffodil yellow organza with white daisies appliquéd on the skirt, spaghetti straps, matching daisies on the jacket shoulders as a yellow silk straw hat trimmed with white daisies. Yellow bag and shoes completed yet another Bill Belew creation.
The color scheme was lavender and peach which included orchids flown from Hawaii for the occasion. Karen was certainly showered with loads beautiful gifts, but admitted feeling more nervous at her bridal shower than any Carpenters concert! Actually she never looked happier, except course on her wedding day. Celebrities at the shower included the Bee Gee's mother and sister, Dareth Newley, Olivia Newton-John, Mrs. Mike Curb, Mrs. Jerry Weintraub, Mrs. Herb Alpert and of course the mothers of the engaged couple.
Some of you may be interested in a few statistics pertaining to the "international" floral arrangements for the wedding, mostly flown in on special order. Two thousand stems of orchids from Singapore, lilies-of-the-valley for the bride's bouquet and the groomsmen's buttonholes from Germany, orchids for the mothers handbags from Australia, four hundred alba lilies from Oregon, one hundred dozen gardenias and pikaki from Hawaii, four thousand stems of stocks and eight dozen chrysanthemums from Ventura county in California.
The bridesmaids and ushers are listed as follows:
Matron of Honor: Frenda Leffler
Bridesmaids:
Flower girls:
Best Man: Rick Burris
Ushers:
Ring Bearer: Andrew Leffler
Some of the celebrities who attended the wedding are as follows: M/M Herb Alpert, M/M Mike Curb, John Davidson, Mrs. John Denver, M/M Daryl Dragon, M/M Hugh Gibb & Berry, Dorothy Hamill, Casey Kasem, Joe Layton, Mrs. Henry Mancini, Dean Paul Martin, Olivia Newton-John, Phil Ramone and Jo Jo Starbuck.
Relatives of the family were reunited from Canada, England, Connecticut and Maryland.
Karen wishes to convey her deepest gratitude for the hundreds of beautiful congratulatory cards, messages and gifts which helped make her marriage so memorable.
The family wish me to advise you, in response to the many requests pertaining to availability of wedding photos, they are busy sorting out enormous quantities of them. but some will be available later on at the usual price, but it may take some weeks.
Latest word from Richard regarding the Carpenters scene is, they anticipate release of a new single before the end of this year and although significant progress has been made on the new album, it is doubtful if release date can be speculated before February or March of next year.
Due to the recent wedding and moving arrangements etc. regretfully their TV Special has been postponed until next Spring.
The Carpenter and Burris families are looking forward to spending Christmas at home, and Everyone connected with them extends the Season's Greetings to you all, and we hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving which will have a very significant meaning to our two families this year.
Until next year, take care. Rosina.
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Last changed: Tue Sep 6 15:30:33 EDT 2005